King's College London

About Us

The School of Life Course & Population Sciences is one of six Schools that make up the Faculty of Life Sciences & Medicine at King’s College London. The School unites over 400 experts in women and children’s health, diabetes, nutritional sciences, population health and the molecular genetics of human disease. Our research links the causes of common health problems to life’s landmark stages, treating life, disease, and healthcare as a continuum. We are interdisciplinary by nature and this innovative approach works: 91 per cent of our research submitted to the Subjects Allied to Medicine (Pharmacy, Nutritional Sciences and Women's Health cluster) for REF 2014 was rated as world-leading or internationally excellent. We use this expertise to teach the next generation of health professionals and research scientists. Based across King’s Denmark Hill, Guy’s, St Thomas’ and Waterloo campuses, our academic programme of teaching, research and clinical practice is embedded across six Departments.

About the role

We are seeking a highly motivated Research Fellow or Senior Research Fellow in Health Coaching to lead the development and evaluation of health coaching interventions for university students. This role involves designing, implementing, and assessing the effectiveness of a structured health coaching program where students will be trained as health coaches to support individuals with chronic conditions, such as hypertension, improving their lifestyle behaviours, including physical activity and healthy nutrition. The ideal candidate will have expertise in behavioural health interventions, coaching methodologies, and research evaluation, with a strong background in public health, psychology, health sciences, or a related field.

This role is ideal for a passionate researcher eager to bridge behavioural science and practical intervention design, with a focus on improving student training in health coaching and enhancing chronic disease management. If you have the drive to make a meaningful impact, we encourage you to apply!

What we offer:

• Opportunity to lead an innovative research project with real-world impact on student training and chronic disease management
• Access to a supportive academic and research community
• Professional development opportunities, including training in advanced research methodologies and leadership skills
• Potential for further career progression within the university or external research partnerships

This is a full time post (35 hours per week), and you will be offered a fixed term contract for until 16th May 2028.

For informal inquiries, please contact Josip Car at Josip.car@kcl.ac.uk

About You

To be successful in this role, we are looking for candidates to have the following skills and experience:

Essential criteria – Grade 7

1. PhD (or equivalent experience) in Psychology, Behavioural Sciences, Public Health, Health Sciences, or a related field
2. Experience in health coaching, behavioural interventions, or chronic disease management programmes
3. Strong research background with expertise in experimental design, mixed-methods research, and statistical analysis
4. Knowledge of behaviour change theories and practical application in intervention design
5. Excellent project management and leadership skills
6. Strong communication skills, with the ability to engage diverse stakeholders
7. Committed to equality, diversity and inclusion, actively addressing areas of potential bias

Essential criteria – Grade 8

1. PhD (or equivalent experience) in Psychology, Behavioural Sciences, Public Health, Health Sciences, or a related field
2. Experience in leading health coaching, behavioural interventions, or chronic disease management programmes
3. Substantial experience in leading and managing research, with expertise in experimental design, mixed-methods research, and statistical analysis
4. Expertise in behaviour change theories and experience in its practical application in intervention design
5. Substantial project management experience and strong leadership skills
6. Strong communication skills, with experience engaging with diverse stakeholders
7. Proven track record of academic publishing and grant writing
8. Committed to equality, diversity and inclusion, actively addressing areas of potential bias

Desirable criteria - Grade 7 & 8

1. Certification or formal training in health coaching, motivational interviewing, or similar methodologies
2. Experience working with university students or individuals with chronic conditions
3. Familiarity with digital health tools and interventions (e.g., mobile health apps, online coaching platforms)
4. Ability to work independently and collaboratively in a multidisciplinary team

Downloading a copy of our Job Description

Full details of the role and the skills, knowledge and experience required can be found in the Job Description document, provided at the bottom of the next page after you click “Apply Now”. This document will provide information of what criteria will be assessed at each stage of the recruitment process.

Further Information

We pride ourselves on being inclusive and welcoming. We embrace diversity and want everyone to feel that they belong and are connected to others in our community.

We are committed to working with our staff and unions on these and other issues, to continue to support our people and to develop a diverse and inclusive culture at King's.

We ask all candidates to submit a copy of their CV, and a supporting statement, detailing how they meet the essential criteria listed in the advert. If we receive a strong field of candidates, we may use the desirable criteria to choose our final shortlist, so please include your evidence against these where possible.

How to apply: Your application should specify whether you’re applying for the position of a Research Fellow or Senior Research Fellow. Please submit your application, including a detailed CV with a list of relevant publications and research experience, cover letter, contact information for two references, and a brief statement outlining how you would approach the development and evaluation of a student-led health coaching intervention for individuals with chronic conditions via our recruitment site. Your cover letter should highlight your experience, motivation and fit for the role.

To find out how our managers will review your application, please take a look at our ‘ How we Recruit’ pages.

Interviews are due to be held within three weeks of the closing date.

This post is subject to Disclosure and Barring Service.